Plan for More Hezbollah In Cabinet Rejected

CAIRO, Egypt — Arab foreign ministers yesterday rejected Syria's demand that Hezbollah and its allies have greater representation in Lebanon's Cabinet, according to delegates at an emergency meeting in Cairo.

Participants at the Arab League meeting late yesterday said the majority of ministers rejected a request by Foreign Minister Walid Moallem of Syria for a new formula for Lebanese politics. Mr. Moallem had pushed for Hezbollah to have 10 ministers in the next Cabinet — or one-third of the seats — which would effectively give the Hezbollah-led opposition veto power. Two delegates at the meeting confirmed the information, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. They spoke to the Associated Press by telephone while the meeting was still under way. Only Foreign Minister Abdel Rahman Shalgam of Syria backed the Syrian proposal, the officials said.

Lebanon is embroiled in its worst political crisis since the end of its 1975–90 civil war. A former president, Emile Lahoud, left office on November 23 without a successor, and Parliament has so far failed to elect the army chief to replace him.